Sari Deshayes

I violin

I enjoyed singing a lot when I was a child and dreamed of being a pop singer. At the initiative of my first-grade teacher, I was sent to the entrance examinations of the Vantaa Music institute. My point scores were high, and I was asked whether I would like to play the violin instead of the piano. I had never even seen a violin, but I said yes. I fell in love with the instrument and abandoned thoughts of a career as a pop singer.

From the Music Institute, I went on to the Junior Department at the Sibelius Academy and then to the soloist degree programme there. I began to play gigs with professional orchestras in my twenties, one of them being the Tapiola Sinfonietta. When a 1st Violin vacancy was announced, I applied and was fortunate to be hired for a permanent position in my first ever professional audition!

The Tapiola Sinfonietta is a great orchestra to work with, making music with brilliant, pleasant colleagues. I have also been playing with the Vantaa Pops Orchestra and the Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra for quite some time. When time allows, I enjoy performing with other orchestras too, or playing pop or rock with a quartet, for instance. Music listening is also a source of inspiration, ranging from my childhood love – schlagers – to classical and everything in between!